Hackberry Elementary School District #3 board approves corrective action plan submission and routine fiscal, personnel items

The Hackberry Elementary School District #3 governing board voted Aug. 12 to submit its completed Auditor General corrective action plan after the district reported it had implemented all 41 required action items.

Sam Dell, Business Manager, told the board that the corrective action plan’s 41 items have been implemented and moved that the plan be submitted to the Auditor General; Pam Adams seconded the motion and the board recorded the action as Passed 4-0. Dell also presented the June financial report, noting a student activities beginning balance of $3,728.06 and clarifying that the county collects and distributes taxes for students who attend KUSD high school.

Christina Ramirez, Superintendent/Principal, presented academic data showing improvement in ELA and math proficiency and said the district’s preliminary letter grade rose from a C to a B. Ramirez outlined leadership and operational priorities for the coming year, including parent communication platforms (Clever and ParentSquare), a schoolwide intervention period, and five planned field trips.

In personnel and routine business, the board accepted the resignation of board member Bryan Wright (motion by Tammy Herrera, second by Valerie Grimes; Passed 4-0), approved a full-time paraeducator contract for Timonthy Sprenkle for SY 2025–26, and approved Cheryl Schoolcraft in the Classroom Site Fund Distribution Plan. The board also approved multiple accounts payable and payroll vouchers and authorized thank-you letters for donations. Several personnel policy updates were approved to change vacation, sick leave, retirement, and personal/emergency/religious leave provisions for professional and support staff; motions for those changes carried 4-0.

Facilities and grant items were discussed. Dell reported the district owns a single 10-acre parcel with clear boundaries. He said the district has applied for a School Facilities Division (SFD) Kitchen Fire System grant of $9,000 to replace the kitchen fire system and that he will return with more information when available. The board approved the SFD preventive maintenance reports for FY23 and FY24 required for grant eligibility.

The board approved attaining a Pre-Paid Legal service, authorized a Food Program Permanent Service Agreement, and approved a proposal to reduce staff meal prices; recorded motions for these items carried 4-0. Several advisory policies (Nos. 792–800, 801–807, 809–818, and 909–914) were read for the first time with no final action at this meeting.

The board briefly entered executive session under A.R.S. 38-431.03(A)(3) to discuss personnel matters; motions to enter and to approve what was discussed in executive session were both recorded as Passed 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.; the next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2025, and agenda items are to be submitted to Superintendent Christina Ramirez five business days prior to agenda preparation.

Fiscal and procedural clarifications noted at the meeting included the district’s plan to present a revised FY26 budget in September reflecting legislative funding changes and a detailed change log, and Dell’s clarification that tax collection for students attending KUSD high school is handled by the county and remitted directly to KUSD.